Thoughts to ponder as I wrestle with this...

Do your relationships control you,

or does Christ control your relationships?
God wants to be the most important thing in your life. Sadly, many Christians let the opinions of other people control their own decisions, altering what they consider to be important.

Proverbs 29:25 says, Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Your relationships with the people you're around could be a snare to you if let them control you.

However, if Christ is more important to you than any relationship, then he will control your relationships, guiding you into right, godly ones. Make Christ first place in your heart, and he will control and direct your relationships.

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So nice...

It was so nice to "be on strike" and just take some time for me without having to actually leave! Last Saturday night I stayed in my room all evening and guess what the boys fed themselves for supper--Ice cream, chips and some other junk food. They did follow through with their usual bedtime routine. It just happened to be over an hour after their normal bedtime! BUT, hey, I was happy they were dealing with it. I think they were even happier to have mom back Sunday afternoon!
I must say that getting ready for church and getting out the door Sunday morning (all by myself) was quite nice! I also need to add that the boys have been really good this week... I wouldn't say perfect but much better!

I'm on, or should I say, was on strike

I've had it,,, had it up to my eyeballs with whining, demanding, ungrateful children. I don't know what else to do but to go on Strike! I quit; I give up! I'm done for the next 24 hours!!! I am here but not working,,, isn't that what being on strike means?
Here's what being on strike until tomorrow afternoon means for me....

I won't have to:

Cook, clean or pretend to care. And while I am NOT cooking I won't have to listen to the boys fighting, yelling, hitting, crying and tattling.

I am really hoping this strike includes not having to listen to my husband nag, warn and correct, everyone else in the house! aahhh, That would be so nice!

I won't have to listen to them complain that they didn't like what was served for supper!

I won't have to tell them that they are starting to stink and need to bathe. So, then I won't have to sit in the bathroom to monitor that they aren't splashing,,, and I surely won't have to wipe up water they splashed out.

I won't have to ask them 4 times to get their PJ's on, and listen to them whine that they can't find the right ones! No more, calling them to the bathroom 3 times, waiting for them to come get their teeth brushed, and begging them to hold still as they fight and push each other off the stool, while their dad watches like an innocent bystander!

I won't have to spend 30 minutes tucking them in, answering the 20 questions they come up with to procrastinate and re-adjusting their necessary nightlights so the lighting is just right!
(I'm trying not to think about the sad part--- not being able to kiss them good night
and pray with them!)
But, on the bright side, in the morning won't it be so peaceful! I won't have to:
worry about getting anyone ready for church but myself. I won't have to be the cook and the waitress or the cleaning staff.

I won't have to listen to whining about someone not getting what they wanted for breakfast and arguing that brother got more or that someone didn't get enough milk in their cereal or didn't want juice!

I won't have to clean up the kitchen floor where the kids didn't eat over the table. Oh, and better yet, I won't have to listen to my husband complain about the kids eating like kids, who spill or drop crumbs!

I won't have to remind EVERYONE that the car is leaving for church in 5 minutes ("sure hope ya make it.") and then wait in the car for 3 of those 5 minutes or usually longer for Daddy (because he HAD to unload the dishwasher before church!)

AH, won't it be nice, I will just hop in my quiet and peaceful car, drive to church, teach my Sunday School class and drive home, or maybe I will get sidetracked at a nice lil coffee shop downtown,, who knows what I will do since I will still be on strike until tomorrow afternoon!

Don't worry about me,,, I will be just fine!!!

Madelynne The GREAT!!!

Jett and Oakley were very into honoring my best-friend's daughter, Madelynne the Great, for National heart month! Maddy is almost three and is quite an incredible little young lady! She was born with hypoplastic-right heart syndrome (which in non-medical person terms is half a functioning heart). She's already been through two major open heart surgeries and will be undergoing another major surgery in a year or less. We are thinking of and praying for Maddy and her family, and for all the other parents who have those precious "heart babies!!!"
Let me know if you want to buy a 'Madelynne The Great' wrist-band to help support the Hypoplastic Right heart foundation!

"WE LOVE YOU MADDY, OHHHH YEAAHHHH, WE LOVE YOU MADDY! OOHHHH YEAHHHH!! WE LOVE YOU MADDY!"

hit play and check it out!

The boys 1st time snow skiing

Getting ready,,,, Ski School here we come!

Yep, we are beginners,,, first time on skis!

This is after the first two hours and they are still standing and still smilin!

Jett manuavering through the crowd to get back to his instructor!

Four hours on the slopes

+ riding the chairlift several times

+ (Oakley) getting lost

=TWO TIRED BOYS!!!!

Oakley's first wrestling match of 2010

Coach Daddy!

waiting to wrestle this new friend

Are these two little boys or two little spider monkeys wrestling?

"Sorry friend but I'm going to pin you now!"

After three pins and Oakley getting pinned once himself,

he won 2nd place at the Sturgis AAU wrestling! WOW,

that looks like a pretty mean face for someone who ALSO

won an individual sportsmanship award!
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Oakley and D'Angleo- Best Buds!